April 1st, 2011

These are some videos from the last couple of months. Some of them show Ashling working hard at The Wilson Rehabilitation Centre, and others are of Jamie flying around the place now. Hope you enjoy them. If you only have time to look at a couple of videos, look at the last two - they're the best. The first ones are of Ash doing her exercises.

Tummy Time on a skateBoard - very short

http://www.youtube.com/user/collinsger#p/u/3/8I0XLd0KFBI

Ash walking with a float only

http://www.youtube.com/user/collinsger#p/u/5/A_R88Em1oog

Ash kicking in the pool

http://www.youtube.com/user/collinsger#p/u/7/hssqrYFMbZE

Ash sidewalking in the pool

http://www.youtube.com/user/collinsger#p/u/6/_4DOhwIPkTM

Jamie about a month ago

http://www.youtube.com/user/collinsger#p/a/u/0/XJJ_DpJE9gI

Jamie about a week ago - telling her Daddy to "Go Go" while he was playing with her

http://www.youtube.com/user/collinsger#p/u/1/F1OPiXdmZGk

Ash, Jamie and cousin Leah dancing in the playPin

http://www.youtube.com/user/collinsger#p/u/2/7whFHd7_UwI

Jamie and Ash chatting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4NSMzvtAZ0&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Jamie Laughing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAbpBQgLZCM&feature=related

Feb 25th 2011-update on Ash

Sorry it's been so long since I've written a decent blog. Hope you are all keeping well and happy.

We are all keeping well, though very shocked by the earthquake in Christchurch.

Ashling is doing very well now after a rocky few months. She had been doing really well at Christmas time, starting to look a lot stronger when walking with her walking aid. But then she had a wee accident on her trike after Christmas, which resulted in a fracture in her leg. This put her out of action for a couple of months and unfortunately, this put her progress back quite a long way. It's been such a rollercoaster for her. Everytime her legs get stronger, something happens. Her legs are still not as strong as they were before her first knee surgery last September, but we know she'll get there again soon.

Otherwise, she's doing so so well. Her arms are getting very strong from bum shuffling and moving around the place. She's doing a huge amount of rehabilitation and she's highly motivated so it's really easy to do it with her. I'm taking her to a rehabilitation centre 2 days a week and she does lots of gym work (walking, learning to kneel, tummy time etc). She also does aquatic therapy in the pool after that. It's a big day for her but she's getting a lot out of it. Poor girl falls asleep in the car within minutes of leaving the place! We also have a girl called Renee who comes round to the house 2 afternoons a week to do more rehabilitation with Ashling. We do as much as can in between. So she's getting lots of opportunites to get stronger and she's really happy about that. I think watching Jamie flying around the place has been a great motivator for her. They get along so well, it's just gorgeous to watch them playing together. We just adore Jamie, she's been so great for our family.

The last bit of news about Ashling is that she finally had the hole from her gastrostomy repaired. As you know Ashling had a gastrostomy for over a year and after we stopped using it, it continued to leak and was very sore and problematic for Ashling. She had been on the waiting list to get it repaired. On the 17th of January she had it done under anaesthetic. It was like a mini c-section. It all went really well and Ashling is so much happier now that the scar has healed. We have finally been able to get her to lie on her tummy (after 3 years), though she still doesn't last long in that position.

She is such a happy little kid though and has a dynamite personality, making friends everywhere she goes. She goes to PreSchool 3 mornings a week and has a teacher's Aid helping her to get from A to B. She loves it there, in fact she never wants to come home!!!!

That's all for now. Lots of love xxx

Feb 6th 2011

Hi Guys, these are some recent videos. I will write a proper note on the blog over the next few days, giving you an update on Ashling's progress. Cheers, Caroline

1. Ash having a play with Renee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzKpFuBZQWY

2. Ash and Jamie playing in the Pools
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ed9FOFdSJA

3. Daniel playing with Jamie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiVZPn42uyQ

4. Ash sharing her ice-cream with Jamie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff7a4T2ElMA

5. Ger taking the girls out in the wagon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE8PmGecJ7k

6. Sisterly love- watching Tv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHlJ3m2-ZJY

7. Jamie playing with my mobile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHt38Ju5bng

8. Ash's first camping experience
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKinIThH3rA

Merry Christmas

Hi Guys,

Still can't believe it's Christmas time again. Seems like yesterday that we brought Jamie home for her first Christmas. She has just turned one and is a very very busy!!! It's like a whole new experience for us cause we never really had to child-proof the house much with Ashling but with Jamie, we nearly need to child-proof the neightbour's place!

Ashling is going great. She is getting stronger again and is back walking fairly well with her walker, which is very encouraging for her. She's also in great form, really excited about Christmas. She loves the idea of Santa - but from a distance! She won't go next or near him, not to mind get into a photo with him, and just can't understand why "little girls sit on his lap". She's hilarious!

Below are a few recent videos - there's nothing riveting here, but it'll give you an idea how the kids are doing now.
Well, that's about all for now.
Hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful Christmas.
Love Car and Ger x

1. The girls playing on thier cars with Ger:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgXRKoF-Sv0

2. The new sand-pit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o5_9EZ5NCs&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

3. The Girls watching TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqTGw_O75BU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

4. Jamie's Birthday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwZTMBBv4i0&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&playnext=1

5. Jamie Standing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY9irjIROiE&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&playnext=2

6. The Girls playing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLY_YytqLvs&feature=BF&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&index=21

7. Pre-school - Nativity Play:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DOnLrPTNis&feature=BF&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&index=22

8. Cutie Jamie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u3HsRFUpO0&feature=BF&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&index=23

9. Why Jamie needs to be monitored!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ph1xL7noc&feature=BF&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&index=24


Ps: This is a Christmas letter that we wrote, in case you'd like to read it....

Hi Folks,
Well I’d really hoped to be able to write individual letters/cards, but our 2 monkeys just keep us so busy, I think you’d be waiting until next Christmas for that to happen!! So I’m afraid this will have to suffice for this year.
Firstly, Merry Christmas to one and all. Hope you enjoy the silly season and have some decent quality time with your loved ones.
We are all keeping well, enjoying life in New Zealand. Ashling is continuing to recover from her knee surgery and she’s getting stronger every day. The knee surgery was a big set-back for her walking so that’s been pretty tough for her. Please God she will be back walking independently with her walking aid by the beginning of 2011.It looks like Jamie will also be walking at around the same time cause she’s starting to put her legs under her now. She’s really active; she just flies around the place, crawls faster than I can walk. Gosh, we’re really enjoying her, she’s so much fun and she gets on great with Ashling. Poor Ash has to be really tolerant of Jamie as she takes everything off her - she is at that destructive age! Ash hides in the corner with her toys until she sees Jamie coming at her like a bull in a China Shop!
Ger is in great form, still working in the same job and continuing with his exercise. It took him a while to settle back after the fantastic trip we had home but everything is back to normal now. I’m keeping well too, still at home full-time with the girls. I haven’t done any teaching since Jamie came along cause it’s just too full-on with Ashling’s rehabilitation etc. I don’t mind though. I love being at home and taking care of them, even though I find it hard at times. I get out whenever I can though, my Mam helps out at times, and Ger is great for kicking me out the door for a walk as soon as he gets in from work. We have also made quite a few friends through the kids and are trying to get our social lives back – somewhat!

We are heading away for 10 days over Christmas, spending 5 days with our friends Padraig and Cathy in their summer house, and then 5 more nights at a camp site. We have booked a cabin at the camp site because we thought it might be a bit too brave to go camping just yet…especially since the weather is so unreliable over Christmas. Think the kids will love the experience down there.
The highlight of 2010 was our trip home to Ireland. We had a brilliant time at Ger’s sister, Denise’s wedding; it was a fantastic day and we were delighted to be at home for it. It was lovely seeing Ashling being her flower girl. She never stops talking about it, and has been flat out watching the DVD of the wedding since. We are blown away by how many people’s names she remembers.
It was fantastic catching up with everyone in Feakle and Kenmare and we are grateful to everyone for making the effort and going out of their way to be so accommodating and welcoming to us. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to get to see everyone and we are sorry to those who we just didn’t get to meet. Next time for sure.
Well that’s all for now. We are going to U2 on Thursday night so can’t wait for that.
Hope you have a great break over Christmas and are blessed with good health and happiness in the Year ahead.
Lots of love Always, Car, Ger, Ashling and Jamie xoxoxoxo

Recovering and Getting Stronger....Nov 9th, 2010

I really wanted to get this blog updated before Ger's sister Denise's 30th birthday, and I finally made it...bang on time. Happy birthday Denise. Hope you have a fantastic time at your 30th birthday party. Wish we could be there with you all. We love and miss you very much!

Well, things are much better here after a very rough couple of months. Ashling is finally pain-free and back to her old self. She has been pretty miserable since the surgeries and very uncomfortable, Over the last week we've seen a massive difference in her form and confidence. She was very nervous and needy for the last while and it took a LOT of patience to get through the last few weeks, but somehow our prayers were answered, as they always are, and we had the patience needed to get through it. Now she's a happy little camper again, with a very vivid imagination, constantly talking about her "other house!!!!" and her other family (who, funnily enough, all seem to have the same names as us, except Jamie is her baby, not her sister! Oh and she's got another baby called....."Mammy"- bet you weren't expecting that one! Ha Ha).

Anyway, back to the serious stuff. Ashling's legs are getting stronger but very slowly. Even though she's not in pain anymore and doesn't seem to feel the plates and screws in her legs, she has lost heaps of strength and flexibility. She can't pull herself into a supported stand again yet and she can't bend her legs much either (not much more than they are genetically bent). So we are doing a huge amount of rehabilition with her and it's working....slowly. I'm taking her to The Wilson Centre twice a week, a rehabilitation Centre in Devonport, where they do gym work with her and then exercises in the hydrotherapy pool. It's fantastic. We also have a girl called Renee coming twice a week to do exercises with her at home and then we do as much as we can, whenever we can fit them in. She has been a trooper. It's just amazing what the child will do....all for a sticker!!!

One problem that arose out of the surgeries was her tummy. The hole from her gastrostomy (the tube that we used to use to feed her) started leaking after the first surgery and then got infected and became extremely sore and problematic for Ashling. We had to go back to see the Surgeon who originally put the tube in. Unfortunatley, the news wasn't good. He said that it's extremely unusual that the hole hasn't closed by now (14 months) and if it hasn't done so by now, by itself, then it won't. He said that she will have to have surgery...yes, more surgery for our little monkey. It would break your heart! Anyway, they will have to sew the skin from the inside out (3 layers, like a mini c-section) and then it shouldn't cause anymore problems for her. We have been put on the waiting list so I assume it will be sometime in the new year. Don't want it before then anyway!

Ashling and Jamie get on extremely well. Jamie is a fabulous little girl, so placid and happy. You'd hardly know she was around the place, she's so independent, except for the mess! She wrecks the joint. She's so so active, can crawl faster than I can walk. And she's knock you over with the strength of one of her thunder thighs! Poor Ash spends more time in Jamie's playpen, trying to protect herself from Jamie, than Jamie spends in it!!!! The first time she asked me to go in Jamie's playpern, I thought I'd misheard her but then I looked over and saw that jamie had knocked over her lego castle, pulled all the assessories off her barbie, and wrecked her little play picnic......then I understood why she wanted to go in there. For peace! I thought to myself - "10 out of 10 for thinking outside the box, Ash"!!!

I have attached a few videos of the two girls. Hope you like them. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Lots of love, all the Collins gang xxxxx

The two girls playing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8vcM41xCTE

The girls having a cuddle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnY0mKcV4VI

The night of the wedding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsgqKHjwazQ

Ger messing with Jamie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q1bSdRM2Sk

Complications!!!

Poor Ash!!!!!! We went into the hospital on Tuesday for a C.T. Scan to check that the plates were in the right place on Ashling's knees. We thought this was a standard practice after eight-plate surgery.
But it turned out that the plates on Ashling's right knee were too high and too small. Apparently the surgeons had decided to put different plates in her two knees???? and the ones on one side weren't sitting where they should have been. They had actually been a bit suspicious of such!

Of course we didn't realise any of this until Tuesday and needless to say, we were extremely upset and angry. So poor Ashling had to go through the whole thing again 48hrs later, on Thursday morning. They took out the two plates and 4 screws on her right knee and then replaced them lower down on the knee. The surgery went well and this time, they had the foresight to actually get the CT scan done while she was still in surgery and make sure that they had put them in correctly.

So now Ashling is trying to recover from yesterday's surgery, with fresh wounds and wounds that had nearly healed on her right leg, as well as the wounds on her left leg that have nearly healed. She has been absolutely amazing and our hearts have bled for her over the past few days. She's the bravest person I've ever known.

Feeling very disheartened with the medical system right now! But I suppose at least the mistake was noticed and rectified now, rather than in 6 months time.

Thanks for reading this xxx

Surgery - done and dusted!!! Yay!!!!

Ashling finally had her knee surgery on Monday, third time lucky!!! And it was, it all went swimmingly well and I can't believe we're only 36 hours post-op and we are at home and Ashling is asleep!!! Woo Hoo!
Ashling's legs are sore but she's on strong medication and it seems to be keeping her pain in control. Obviously she' s bit frustrated about not being able to move her legs, but she's improvising already! She has such a strong will. We're so happy for her that the surgery is done and dusted. We have to go into the hospital next week for CT scans to check that the plates and pins are all in the right place on her knees, so hopefully that will all go well.
Take Care xxx